Shotgun-wad.



E. M. BARROWS.

SHOTGUN WAD.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-7,1918.

1,291,698 Patented Jan. 21,1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARLE M. BARROWS, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO H. M. ELWELL, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

SHOTG-UN-WAID.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Application filed August 7, 1918. Serial N 0. 248,730.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARLE M. BARROWS, a citizen of the United States, resident of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shotgun-Wade, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a shot or scatter gun wad which will accurately follow the center of trajectory or pattern of a multiple shot charge and leave a trail of fire, smoke or vapor in the air to indicate the path traversed by the charge and enable the person using the gun to correct any inaccuracy of his aim.

A further object is to provide a shot load designed for use for either field or target or wing shooting purposes.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all ashereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a gun wad embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a modified construction of the same,

Fig. 3 is a sectional viewof another modification,

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are horizontal sectional views, respectively, of the same.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of another form of Wad, Fig. 8 is a similar view of another modified construction,

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of still another form or type, p v

Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are sectional views of- Figs. 7, 8 and 9, I

Figs. 13 and 14 are sectional views of still another modified constructio'n, i

Fig. 15 is a modified form of Fig. 13.

In the -drawing, referring to Fig. 1, 2 represents a cylindrical wad of felt or fibrous material, impregnated with wax of paraiiinor other fusible composition, which will melt under the heat of the discharge and allow a full sized wad to contract and expand in passing through the barrel of the gun. A recess 3 is provided in this wad that is filled with the smoke or fire-making composition held in place by theannular rib or shoulder 4: which may be provided at the outer end of the chamber or cavity 3, though I do not confine myself to this construction, as these shoulders may be omitted, if preferred. When the gun is discharged, this smoke or fire composition will be ignited and burning as the wad flies through the air, will leave a trail or trace of smoke or fire so that the person using the gun can readily determine the direction of the discharge and in making a subsequent shot, can correct any inaccuracy of his aim, it being understood, of course, that the wad is of such a nature that it will carry with the shot and not drop down upon the ground immediately or soon after it is discharged from the gun barrel. The composition above referred to is preferably made of gun powder, an oxidizing agent, and magne sium in suitable proportions, but any other material for accomplishing the same result may be used for the purpose.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a modified construction, consisting of a core 5 of papier mach, wood or a solid material of suflicient weight to carry and provided with a chamber 6 for the smoke or fire compound, or, this core may be made of cork, if preferred. 7 is'a shell or jacket, of felt or similar expanding material, which will swell upon release from the cartridgeand fill the bore of the gun.

Fig. 3 is a similar form of wad, with a disk of lead 8 or other suitable dense metal inserted into the core to provide the desired weight and carry for, the wad.

Fig. 7 illustrates a metal core 9 having a smoke chamber 10 and a jacket 11 of expansible felt or other suitable fibrous material.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a shell-like core 12,preferably of metal, having an annular flange 13 at oneend and containing a chamber 14 for the smoke or fire compound. On this shell-like core I mount a series of rings 15 of expansible felt or other suitable fibrous material. The metal shell or container may be held in place by compression of the rings or by a glue compound and may be released from the rings or wedding when discharged from the barrel to follow. the charge.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a metal container corresponding substantially to the one shown in Fig. 8 and which I will indicate its by reference numeral 12, having the ring wads 15* and smoke or fire compound chainber 14:. This metal container is preferably provided with a light wad 16 which will drop off to allow the container, with or without the rings 15, to follow the charge of shot.

When the gun is discharged, the rings 15 will be forced against the flange on the end of the metal container or core and cause sufiicient expansion of the rings to efiectually close the joint between them and the barrel, and 'I have found in practice that the rings will remain on the metal container throughout itsfiight a distance equal substantially to the flight of the shot.

In Fig. 13 I have shown a wad 17 of felt or fibrous material weighted with a metallic disk 18 to give carrying power and provided with the suitable smoke composition cham: ber 19.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the same.

In Fig. 15 I have illustrated a-wad 20 made with a rounded outer end 21, in which case a light wad 22 having a flat outer surface and fitting over the rounded endof the wad 20 may be used. This wad 20 may have a smoke chamber 19 corresponding to the one described, or may be made without a smoke or fire chamber, and of any suitable shape and be impregnated with an inflammable compound or coated with it so that the wad will take on sufiicient weight to carry and ignition will take place immediately upon the discharge and the wad flying through the air with the shot, will leave a tracer trail of smoke, fire or vapor behind. I

In various ways the device herein described may be modified and still be within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1.. A shot gun wad composed of expansible material having sufiicient carry to follow the charge of shot and embodying means ignited upon the discharge of the gun for leaving a visible trail behind to indicate the path of the charge.

2. A shot gun wad composed of expansible material having sufiicient carry to follow approximately the center of trajectory of the pattern or cone of dispersion of a multiple shot charge and including means ignited upon the discharge for leaving a tracer trail.

3. A shot gun wad composed of expansible material'of sufiicient weight to carry with the charge of shot, and having a chamber therein to receive a smoke producing composition that is ignited when the gun is discharged.

4. A shot gun wad composed of a suitable jacket of expansible'material and a hollow core of greater density. than the jacket and adapted to contain a smoke composition.

5. A shot gun wad composed of a suitable jacket ring of expansible material and a hollow metallic'core having a head against which said jacket ring is seated and expanded under pressure of the discharge, and said core being adapted to contain a composition ignited upon discharge of the gun for leaving a visible trail.

6. A shot gun wad composed of a suitable jacket ring of expansible material and a hollow metallic core having an annular flange formed thereon at one end against which said jacket. ring is seated, said jacket ring being expanded by pressure when the gun is discharged and said core' being adapted to contain a composition for leaving a visible trail when ignited. I

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of July, 1918.

EARLE M. BARROWS. 

